Marilyn L. Bates

Marilyn L. Bates, 84, of Elkhart passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at her home surrounded by her
loved ones. Marilyn was born on January 22, 1938 to Jack and Geraldine “Jerry” Heist in Elkhart, IN. She
married the love of her life, Keith E. Bates, on July 17, 1964 in Elkhart.
Marilyn enjoyed helping to host the Elkhart High School class of 1956 reunions. She worked alongside
her husband as the bookkeeper for Bates Machine and went on to retire from Paradise Pools as a
bookkeeper. She enjoyed reading, knitting and crocheting. She was always in attendance at her
grandchildren’s school activities, games and plays. She enjoyed playing games and spending time with
her family and friends.
Marilyn is survived by her children, Vicki (Steve) Hart, Kim (Cindy) Skatvold, Wendy (Dan) Matz, all of
Elkhart, IN and Keri (Steve) Owens of League City, TX; her grandchildren Lori Diver, Adam Hart, Jackie
Barella, David Glasgow, Kevin Glasgow, Natalie Klose, Ashley Matz, Lindsay Lucchese, Chelsey Smith,
twins: Donald and Keith Matz, Dirk Thompson, Riki Kolenda and Reilly Owens; 23 great-grandchildren;
her sisters, Jen Cooper of Bristol, IN., Becky (Ed) Baugher of Virginia and Chris King of Bristol, IN; her
brother-in-law Ben Daugherty of Georgia; and her "Sunshine”, Ray Enfield of Elkhart; Marilyn was
preceded in death by her husband Keith E. Bates on October 23, 2018; son Dirk Skatvold and sister Barb
Daugherty.
Visitation will be held from 2-3 pm on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home,
1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514. Memorial donations may be made to Indiana School of
Medicine, Neuropathy Division-Dementia Laboratory, 635 Barnhill Drive A133, Indianapolis, IN 46202. A
private, family only celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held at 3pm. Online condolences may be made to
the Bates family online at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com